Ipsy Review -- September 2014

Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription. For $10 a month (free shipping in the US, $4.95 to Canada), you receive 4-5 deluxe samples or full-sized products, plus a makeup bag. There are several combinations of products sent out each month, so my review is just one sampling of what was received.

Crown Brush Infinity Shadow and Crease Duet Brush

$17.50 (currently on sale for $6.99) / Full size

I am late to the make up brush party, but I really do love them! I currently use a teensie tiny crease brush that came with my current eyeshadow and a blush brush as an eyeshadow blender brush. All of that to say, this brush is PERFECT. Now I have one brush that does both of those things. The bristles are very soft and overall, the brush quality feels great. I'm very excited to have received this brush!

Please forgive the horrible quality of all of my
pictures in this post. I was in a rush. 

Pacifica Natural Waterproof Eye Pencil

2.87 / .026 oz

From the sneak peaks (Ipsy reveals pictures at the beginning of each month showing the products you may receive), everyone was going to receive either this eye pencil or nail polish by Pacifica. I so wish I would've received the polish, but oh well. I got the liner in the color gun metal, which is a metallic silver. I'm a bit nervous about this one; I haven't worn silver eyeliner since middle school. I'm going to post it on my edivv site and see if anyone is interested. If it stays there a while, I'll take the plastic wrap off and try it. 

Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser

$2.33 / 1 oz

I've recently become more aware of chemicals I use, both in household products, but also in products I put on my skin. Therefore, I really appreciate getting items that are chemical free like this face cleanser. I recently bought Norwex makeup removing cloths (magical cloths that clean with just water -- no chemicals or soap!), so I've been washing my face with those in the evenings, but I wanted to give this product a fair shot, so I've been using it in the shower. I really love it. It's technically fragrance free, but it does have a tiny hint of a smell. I've read complaints about it, but it doesn't bother me. It spreads on my face smoothly (requiring VERY little product) and makes my skin feel clean and soft afterward. This is a product I may look into actually purchasing once my sample is gone.

Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss

$19.00 / .14 oz (full size!)

Ipsy has quickly learned that I enjoy lip glosses. The color is much darker than the picture shows, which makes it a bit intimidating for me, but because it's a gloss (instead of a lipstick), it still works for me. I like lip colors in the red family more so than pinks, so that's a positive. I'll use it on occasion, but it's a large container (guess how they justify charging $19!!!), so it will take me a long time to get through this.

Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream

$13.77 / 1.1 oz

This brand is sold in England, so converting the cost was a tad more complicated than usual. I think it's worth mentioning that this sample is half the size of the full size product -- pretty generous for a sample. When I first opened my ipsy bag, this product is what I immediately smelled and it's not my favorite. I would describe it as a "grandmother smell." The formula however is amazing. It goes on very smoothly and does not leave any greasy feeling at all! I guess that's why it's called luxury. Because I don't like the smell, I'll likely only use it at night or if I'm staying in for the day. Nice product though.

The Bag

I have a love/hate relationship with this month's bag. I love, and I mean LOVE, the texture and smoothness of the bag. I do not, however, like the look of it. If it was just the silver without the studs, I would adore it, but the studs are so.not.me. From other reviews, it appears many are head over heels for this bag, so I may put it up on my edivv site and see if I have any takers.

Overall: The value of my bag totaled $55.47 (or $44.96 if you use the sale price for the brush) + the bag! This is a GREAT value this month, since I only pay $10 per bag. I like the range of products I received: two makeup items, brush, cleanser, and lotion. I got two full size items and the other three were generous samples. This month was a hit for me. Great job Ipsy!

(Disclosure: Some links may be referral links, meaning if you use them, I receive reward points toward free products. All opinions are my own, and I received zero incentive to write favorable reviews.)

Ipsy Review -- August 2014

It's that time of month (no, not that time...) -- my Ipsy bag arrived yesterday. It is always exciting to open the mailbox and find this bright pink bubble mailer. 

Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription. For $10 a month (free shipping in the US, $4.95 to Canada), you receive 4-5 deluxe samples or full-sized products, plus a makeup bag. There are several combinations of products sent out each month, so my review is just one sampling of what was received.

Lord & Berry Black SILK Kajal Kohl-liner

$4.00 / .02 oz

This sample is so small; it's barely the size of my pinky. I'm not typically a black eyeliner girl. I tend to stick to raisin-y colored liners. Also, I don't think I've ever owned a pencil liner. The idea of sharpening never appealed to me, so I've always gone for the twist-up kind. Regardless, I'm excited to have this little pencil. It will take up no space at all in my makeup bag and maybe I'll whip it out for a more fancy occasion. (I can't for the life of me think of what that would be, but I can dream.) I tested it on my hand first and then one eye (no pictures, sorry). It draws very easily. Because of its smoothness, the staying power doesn't seem to be remarkable, but I'm still hoping to give it a fair try. 

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

$5.50 / .1 oz

This is also a sample sized product, but I was super excited to receive an item from Urban Decay. This brand receives a lot of raves from beauty gurus, and mascara is one of my favorite beauty items. I already tried it (again, no pictures...I promise I tried, they just didn't turn out well) and it really is a great mascara. It gives my lashes both length and volume, which is quite a feat considering my lashes are so short and light. Even with a rather thick brush, I didn't have any issues with clumping. Overall, a really great product. I'm not sure I can ever justify spending $22 on a tube of mascara, but this was by far the best item in my bag this month and I will use every last drop. 

Update: I went to the bathroom after writing this and the eye that I applied these products to was all smudged and looked HORRIBLE! I'm not sure which product was the issue since I applied them both to the same eye, but yikes, one of these is NOT a good match for my oily skin. I really hope it's not the mascara!

Coastal Scents Forever Blush Duo

$1.82 / .08 oz (although there is currently a sale on their website, so if I go by sale price, this sample is only worth $.91)

I pretty much never wear blush, which may seem like a reason to hate receiving blush, but it actually made me more excited for the sample. I struggle with knowing what color(s) would/wouldn't work and don't want to waste money trying, so this is a great way to try two colors out. The colors I received are Fresh (left) and Elegant (right). Elegant is super shimmery and extremely pink on my skin. I will likely steer clear of this one. Fresh, however, barely shows up on my skin, which I kind of like. I can make it super subtle, yet provide some color to my cheeks. The only disappointment with this item is that it's super small (sensing a theme here?). 

Paula's Choice Ultra-light Daily Mattifying Fluid + SPF 30

$8.00 / .5 oz 

I'd never heard of this brand until receiving this sample, so I was excited to get something I wouldn't find on my own. I have very oily/shiny skin, so mattifying fluid (plus sunscreen!) is a great fit for me. I should've read a little more carefully because when I tried it, it came pouring out quickly (hence FLUID) when I expected it to be more like a cream or lotion. At first it felt a little greasy, which is the opposite of what it's supposed to do, but once I rubbed it in well and it dried, it does a great job making my skin appear less oily. I'm excited to continue using this sample. 

Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Lip Conditioner 

$5.50 / .15 oz (full size)

I love lip balm, but my stash is pretty large right now, so I'm not sure this will be used too soon, but it seems like a decent balm. It apparently has anti-aging ingredients and it's organic. The scent is Mandarin Green Orange, which smells like a citrus-earthy combination to me. It applies smoothly (not sticky) and hasn't clumped on my lips after an hour or so of wearing. 

The Bag!

When I saw the preview of the bag for this month, I thought it was super cute (and in the picture, I still think it's super cute), but in person, I'm not a big fan. It's definitely my least favorite of the three bags I've received. It's made out of a vinyl type material and simply feels cheap. I'll either use it as a gift bag for one of my younger sisters or maybe as a pencil pouch (although now that I'm not teaching, I guess I don't really need a pencil pouch). I do like the cylindrical shape and getting a bag is a bonus anyway. 

Overall: The items in my bag totaled a value of $24.82 + the bag. Not one of the best values from Ipsy, but considering I only paid $10, I really can't complain. PLUS, this is the first month that I'm keeping all five products and not putting any of them up on my edivv site to trade. Good job Ipsy. Keep it up! 

(Disclosure: Some links may be referral links, meaning if you use them, I receive reward points toward free products. All opinions are my own, and I received zero incentive to write favorable reviews.)

Ipsy Review -- July 2014

I haven't written a blog in several months...yikes. I'm going to blame it on pregnancy (being super sick and tired doesn't leave room for much blog writing time). In these past couple months, I cancelled my Beauty Box 5 subscription and began subscribing to Ipsy. This is my second bag. I totally dropped the ball on writing a review for the first one. It was really great, so it is in NO way a reflection of my view of Ipsy. Enough rambling, onto the bag!

It comes in a super fun pink mailing envelope!

Ipsy is a monthly beauty and makeup subscription. For $10 a month (free shipping in the US, $4.95 to Canada), you receive 4-5 deluxe samples or full-sized products, plus a makeup bag. There are several combinations of products sent out each month, so my review is just one sampling of what was received.

bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB advanced performance cream eyeshadow

$5.40 / .03 oz

This sample is TINY, but it's a great brand and I doubt I'll need much for each use. I received the color Divine Wine, which is one of the darkest colors they make in this eyeshadow. I swatched it on my hand and it seems a bit dark for me, but I'm going to play with it anyway. It has SPF 15 in it and has proved to have decent staying power on my hand.

Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray 

$6.65 / 1.7 oz

I love receiving hair products. My hair doesn't do much other than be super flat and straight, so I'm willing to try anything. I haven't had great luck with texturizing sprays before, but this one has a lot of really great ingredients (argan oil, soy protein, etc.), so in my opinion, it's worth it to try it just for those benefits. It smells like sunscreen, so I guess if you're going for the beachy smell, then it's perfect, otherwise, meh.

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil SPF 8

$1.50 / 1 oz

This is the product I was least excited about when I saw my glam room (you can see which products you're receiving before your bag actually arrives). I like to get a tan, but I also do it very carefully. I use a minimum of SPF 30 these days, so this is clearly not for me. I've considered putting it on my edivv shop, but I've seen others on there, so it's not likely to be traded quickly. I saw some other reviews that said it could be used as a moisturizer on dry areas, such as heels or elbows. Apparently it smells divine (I've left the plastic on it for now in case I do choose to swap it with someone), so that's appealing. All and all, not my favorite.

Pop beauty Sunkissed Bronzer 

$10 / .25 oz (full size)

I've seen very mixed reviews on this brand, but I'm going to give it a try. My current bronzer is on it's last leg, so this is good timing. But I'm a bit nervous because it looks a tad darker than the one I've been using. Maybe after my trip to the beach next week, it will be perfect.

Pixi Beauty Tinted Brilliance Balm 

$8.40 / .06 oz

I wasn't very excited about this initially. I received the color Pretty Pink, which is very pink (as you can see in the picture). After applying it, I actually kind of like it. It's still a little too pink for me to love it, but it's fairly sheer, so I'll use it on occasion. It has some great ingredients and does hydrate my lips. Also, it smells a little minty and I like that.

The Bag! 

There are a lot of complaints out there about this month's bag being cheap, but I LOVE it. I does have a bit of a funky smell, but it's water resistant and that is PERFECT for summer. I'm taking this one on vacation next week to protect my phone while we're on the beach. Sure, it's obnoxiously bright and sure, it may not be the highest quality bag, but I have plenty of use for it! Getting a bag every month seemed annoying to me when looking at subscribing to Ipsy, but it's surprisingly been one of my favorite parts. I love the two bags I've gotten thus far, and if I don't like one in the future, it'd make cute packaging for a gift.

Overall: The products in my bag totaled $31.95 + the bag. I paid $10, so it has great value! I am definitely going to try four out of the five products (and maybe all five), which is beauty bag success in my eyes. Good job Ipsy!

(Disclosure: Some links may be referral links, meaning if you use them, I receive reward points toward free products. All opinions are my own, and I received zero incentive to write favorable reviews.)

Unexpected Hardships

I'm pretty sure everyone would agree that miscarriage is a heart-breaking event. Losing your unborn child is without question the hardest part of miscarriage, but having gone through this, I am now aware of many more aspects that are so extremely difficult to walk through. I want to clue you in to some of these, so that if you know someone who goes through this, you're better equipped to support them through the process.

When I mentioned this blog post idea to my friend Laura (read her story here), she wanted to join in on the post. While our experiences were very different, we both experienced the following hardships on top of losing our babies. 

Hormone levels

Jackie - If you've ever been pregnant or know anyone who is/has been, you're probably aware of the hormone craziness that happens during pregnancy. This can cause nausea, vomiting, moodiness, etc. When you miscarry, it takes your body quite a while to regulate your hormone levels -- in other words, your body still thinks you're pregnant for days or even weeks after losing the baby! This was especially hard because you're already emotional about losing your baby, but then you have extra emotional-ness (I know that's not a word) because your body is still so confused. If someone you know is experiencing this type of loss, be aware that it may take some time for the hormones to level out. Be patient!

Laura - The extra emotional-ness is NO FUN. I remember bursting into tears while my mom was cutting my hair a couple weeks after John died. She asked what was wrong and I said, “I don’t know!” It’s hard to differentiate between grief and emotions that are caused by hormone levels. You might ask your doctor if there are any medicines or natural remedies you can try if you’re struggling with something in particular. I took melatonin occasionally to help with insomnia, and I considered going on an anti-depressant but ultimately decided to wait and see if the “fog” lifted.

Body Shape

Jackie - To add some salt to the wound, the baby weight doesn't disappear right away. (No, not everyone gains weight super early in pregnancy, but for me and baby #2, there was definitely some spreading of the hips and pudge in the gut.) Just like after delivering a full-term baby, it takes a while for everything to go back to its place (if it ever does). I find this especially hard because you don't have a baby to "justify" the excess weight you're carrying. Instead, you're left with the daily reminder that you did have a baby and now you just have the weight. (Disclaimer: I am NOT saying being a certain size or weight is the goal here, rather that having the weight gained from pregnancy -- even a minor amount in early pregnancy -- is a difficult reminder of what didn't last.)

Laura - I had quite a lot of weight to lose since I lost my baby in my third trimester. Even though my baby was itty-bitty, my body still thought I was carrying a normal 32-week old! Several people asked me if I was pregnant after I had just lost my baby. Ugh! I was often tempted to use food as a comfort from my pain, but ultimately found that cooking my own meals and taking longs walks both calmed me and helped me to lose my baby weight. If you lose your baby later in your pregnancy (or shortly after giving birth), you also might have to deal with lactating and other bodily…issues. I was overcome with grief when my body started producing milk and I had to bind my chest to stop the flow. I had been so looking forward to the sweet connection that comes with nursing a baby. The incision scar from my c-section was also a tough (and ugly) reminder of my loss. Thankfully it looks much better now.

"At least" comments

Jackie - Before I lost my baby, Laura shared with me that “at least” comments were hurtful for her to hear. I now understand what she meant on a whole new level. This is when you're discussing your situation with someone and they respond with, "At least _____ didn’t happen to you." Having used this phrase myself, I know that it is used with great intention. When having a conversation with someone in pain, our goal is to encourage them and maybe even cheer them up. BUT, when using "at least" comments, it feels like you're down-playing my pain. It sounds like you're saying, "Being upset over your situation is pretty silly, because it could have been worse." When you're hurting, you know there are situations worse than your own, but the pain you're experiencing is still pain. If you know someone who is grieving or going through a hard time, don't disregard their emotions with "at least" comments. Instead, use words like, "I am so sorry you are hurting in this way. I hate that this has happened to you. Can I help or encourage you in any way?"

Laura - Have you seen this video about empathy? The concept of “at least” comments being hurtful is brought up, and I found such comfort in realizing that I wasn’t crazy for hating hearing those words! I echo Jackie’s suggestion that instead of making comparisons, voice your sadness and ask how you can help. Also, “at least” comments aren’t the only hurtful things people say. Try to refrain from saying, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” I was also told, “God must need your baby more than you do.” Um, no. That’s foolish talk. A hug, a hot meal and/or a bunch of prayers will help someone who is suffering much more than empty words that don’t contain an ounce of truth.

The "When are you having a baby?" question

Jackie - As a married lady, I find that people's go-to question is, "When are you having a/your next baby?" This is not a bad question in and of itself, but when dealing with miscarriage, it's just another reminder of the loss. I would simply advise you to be careful when asking this question.

Laura - Ah, this one is hard! I respond to this by saying, “I don’t know. I had a stillbirth last summer. We are hoping for a healthy pregnancy in the future.” Maybe that seems like a harsh response, but it’s the truth!

Medical Bills

Jackie - Kevin and I got new health care knowing we were trying to have a baby (and because ObamaCare said we had to). We opted for really good coverage because hospital stays and baby deliveries are pricey. (Gideon's total was $36,000 before insurance -- NOT including the doctor fees. Granted, I was in the hospital for six days because I had pre-eclampsia and hopefully that won't happen again, but you never know.) Our specific insurance plan is pretty expensive monthly, but for having a baby, we would have a one time copay of $20 to the doctor and a $350/day hospital fee (with a max of $1050), making it cheaper in the long run than a less expensive policy. (Trust me, I did all the calculations.) When I had my first doctor's appointment after becoming pregnant, I paid that one-time $20 copay. BUT once I lost the baby, this no longer applied, and I ended up owing for every appointment I had, plus lab tests and shots I had done prior to losing the baby. Receiving the bill for this was a huge slap in the face. Had my baby lived, that $20 would've covered all my doctor's costs, but since I lost my baby, I owed money. (Luckily, it wasn't an enormous amount, but it still made me feel sick.)

Laura - Medical bills add major insult to injury. I wondered, “Isn’t it enough that I had to go through losing my baby? Why should we have to pay thousands of dollars when we got NOTHING in return?” You know your bank account will never be the same once you get pregnant, but you also think that you’re going to get a beautiful, healthy baby in the end.

"What-ifs"

Jackie - After losing my baby, I found myself going through a whole list of what-ifs (and still do at times). What if I lost my baby because I drank coffee while I was pregnant. What if my baby died because I stepped in a neighborhood cat's poop and tracked it through the house, so of course I needed to clean it up. (Cat poop is a big no-no while pregnant.) What if that time Gideon jumped on my stomach killed the baby. What if helping paint the exterior of our house caused the baby to die from the fumes. What if, what if, what if. The day we found out our baby was dead, my doctor assured me it was nothing I did (she must have read my mind because I didn't say anything.), but the what-ifs still arose. I guess my advice in regard to this one is to NEVER (I hope no one would do this anyway) try to diagnose why it happened. Don't ask how much caffeine she had or if she lifted heavy boxes or whatever reasoning you've read/heard for miscarriage. Most likely, she wasn't responsible at all; it just happened.

Laura - I didn’t go over too many “what ifs” in my head after we found out John was dying, but I DO have a lot of what ifs swirling around when it comes to any future pregnancies. What if we can’t get pregnant? What if my next baby dies? What if I spend the rest of my life getting pregnant over and over but losing each baby? I hear those questions in my head every day, but I also fight every day to rest in God’s faithfulness and to have hope for the future.

Recognizing pride

Jackie - I want to start off by saying that this one is very specific to me; it may or may not apply to someone else. This is tricky to explain because on one hand it was very helpful and encouraging to have people supporting me throughout this horrid experience. I had people bringing me meals, texting me, praying for me, etc. I appreciated all of that, truly. BUT, in the midst of receiving lots of encouragement, it often felt like pity. I honestly hate when people feel sorry for me. I much prefer to have everything together and under control. All and all, this is just proof of my massive amount of pride. So really, the tough part of this wasn't actually receiving sympathy, rather recognizing how prideful I am through receiving it. Through this miscarriage, God wrecked my idol of appearing tough/organized/all-together. The reality is I'm not any of those things. When people would ask me questions regarding my loss, I cried (and still do at times). When someone would send me a text saying they were praying, I would cry. Losing my baby was harder than I ever imagined and showed me (and others) how weak I truly am.

Laura - I can definitely relate to struggling with pride. I felt the need to “keep it all together” a LOT, which is ridiculous. I would never expect someone who just lost a baby to have it all together. We are much harder on ourselves than we are on others. I also battled a lot of guilt and lies right after losing my baby. I wrote about how I found grace through my grief here.

While the goal of this post was to help you gain insight into the hardships of losing a baby (and hopefully it has), I don't want to leave you on a negative note. Because even amidst the sadness in all of this, there is still hope. That hope lies in Jesus, my Savior and my King. While experiencing sorrow, I can still rejoice because I already know how the story ends: Jesus wins!

Julep Maven -- free box

If you have read much of my blog, you will quickly realize my new obsession with subscription boxes. It's currently my favorite way to spend my "play money" (a small amount of money budgeted each month for Kevin and I to use separately without the consent of the other for whatever we want -- coffee shop visits, clothing, Taco Bell trips for Kevin, or subscription boxes for me). I've been aware of the subscription box Julep since my first search of the various boxes out there, but I knew it was far too expensive for me on a regular basis ($19.99/month). Plus it was mainly nail polish, which was unappealing at the beginning of my search. After trading for a Julep polish on edivv.com, I quickly fell in love with their polish. The cost is still too much for me to commit to, but with the promo code FREEBOX, you only have to pay shipping ($4.95 I think) for your first box and can cancel before the next billing cycle. I decided to give it a try.

When joining Julep, you take a brief beauty quiz to determine your "beauty style." The styles are:

• Boho Glam -- a dynamic free spirit with a creative eye (2 polishes + 1 full-size beauty product)
• Bombshell -- a confident frill-seeker with magnetic appeal (2 polishes + 1 full-size beauty product)
• Classic with a Twist -- an iconic beauty with a timeless aesthetic (2 polishes + 1 full-size beauty product)
• It Girl -- a colorful trendsetter who's not afraid to be bold (3 polishes)
• Modern Beauty -- a savvy tastemaker obsessed with the art and science of beauty (2 full-size beauty products) 

I was labeled "Classic with a Twist," which is certainly the best fit for my style, however I wasn't super thrilled with that welcome box because it was a red polish and a light shimmery pink polish. I have several reds and would prefer something more fun than light pink. You're allowed to pick any box you want, but I still couldn't commit to any of the options. I loved the idea of "It Girl" because you get three polishes, but it had yellow and white polishes and both of those made me nervous (probably why they didn't assign me that style).

After a month or so, some of the welcome boxes started to change. I really liked the Boho Glam box, which included their Mighty Nail and Cuticle Serum (which has amazing reviews!) and two polishes, Michelle (Midnight inky blue) and Stevie (Concrete gray frost). I also received an email offering me two free polishes with my box. (I had signed up without really signing up, which is why they had my email address.) Sadly, I couldn't use both promo codes together, so I opted for the FREEGIFT code from my email, giving me half off of the welcome box and the two additional polishes free (plus free shipping somehow). All and all, I paid $9.99 for four polishes and the cuticle serum.

Here's my box:

This part is the Boho Glam welcome box. I got the items advertised (2 polishes + cuticle serum), plus two small buffer blocks and a 50% off coupon code for their website. (I already used it for a mystery box!)

And these are the polishes I added.

Left: Harriet (Guava coral creme); Right: Evelyn (Magenta purple creme)

Here are all the swatches. (This is two coats without a top coat.) My favorites are the add-ons, Harriet and Evelyn, but the two darker ones will be great for next winter. (I think Michelle would be even prettier with just one coat.)

Left to right: Stevie, Michelle, Harriet, Evelyn 

Side note: One of my favorite things about the Julep bottles is the outer part of the lid pops off and has a place to swatch so you can see the colors from the top of the bottle. I store my nail polishes all standing up, so I really appreciate this little feature.

If you're interested in getting a free welcome box (just pay shipping), please use my referral code here: Julep (it gives me points toward boxes). Use the promo code FREEBOX after selecting the box you like. (You could also try the FREEGIFT promo I used to add on two polishes, but I have no idea if that will work or if it was tied to my account somehow.)

I'm planning to cancel my account before the next month's boxes are billed (27th of the month) as I really can't justify the $19.99/month cost (even though I do really love their polishes). But, like I said, I already used my 50% off coupon toward a mystery box, so I'll have more Julep nail polish coming before I cancel and I'll let you know what I get.

Best Shower Grout Cleaner

When Kevin and I bought our house (April 2013), one thing that always bugged me was that the master shower was dirty. The shower (just a stand-up, no tub) is completely tile. The walls are large tiles, with a couple smaller decorative ones near the top, but the floor is tiny 1" tiles. The grout between these little tiles was practically black, and cleaning it didn't help. It always grossed me out because one, it's black/dirty looking, but two, it was there before we moved in, meaning a lot of it was created by someone else's grime (dead skin cells...ewww). It's pretty sad to feel dirty while taking a shower.

Anyway, I didn't know how to fix this gross problem and it's not something you regularly discuss with friends. "Oh hey, my shower is growing black stuff that I can't get off with regular cleaner; any suggestions?" Anyway, Kevin had our friend Dan (Mr. Fix-it) check something in our bathroom one day, and while he was in there, he mentioned that they had the same black growth in their newly purchased house and his wife (Simone) got it off with a "special mixture" she made. When Kevin told me this, I immediately needed to find out from Simone what she used. 

I only needed baking soda (or any gritty type cleaner; she used Comet) and bleach. She told me to mix it together until I had a paste, rub it on the grout, and leave it for several hours. The only catch was to make sure it stayed moist during the waiting time, and the best way to do this was to cover it with plastic wrap. After hours had passed, simply pour water over it, and all black yuckiness would be gone. Sounds way too good to be true right? See for yourself through my pictures and step-by-step instructions. 

Step 1: Gather necessary supplies. You will need a good amount of baking soda (don't be intimidated by my huge bag, you don't need THAT much) to make sure the mixture is a paste. Also, be sure to use rubber gloves, so your hands don't disintegrate from the bleach. You'll need something to mix the paste in -- I used a paper bowl...I do NOT recommend this as it started to fall apart after making several batches. You may want to have a toothbrush if there are especially dark places to give a little extra scrub. This is optional though. Lastly, WEAR A MASK!!! The fumes are very strong. A bandana would work fine (that's what my friend Simone wore), but please wear something over your nose and mouth! I also recommend turning on the bathroom fan and opening a window, if possible. 

Step 2: Make the paste. I started by pouring a pile of baking soda into the bowl and then added bleach until it was thin enough to spread, but thick enough to consider a paste. There's no exact combination, but you'll get the hang of it as you're working with it. I had to make several batches since my bowl was small, so each batch was slightly different. Too thick was hard to spread around, but too watery didn't seem to "stick" to the grout. All batches seemed to work overall though, so don't stress on this step. 

Step 3: Spread on grout and cover with plastic wrap. I just used my gloved finger to apply the paste. It was kind of like finger-painting. I put my plastic wrap down in between each batch, but you could probably cover all the grout with paste and then sprinkle/mist with water (to make sure it stays wet) before applying the plastic to everything at once. Whichever appeals to you more.

Step 4: Let sit for several hours. I only did two hours because I wanted to finish before Gideon's bed time. (No, Gideon wasn't near this, as the fumes are quite strong.) I would recommend waiting two to three hours.

Step 5: Remove plastic wrap and rinse with water. (Scrub tough places with toothbrush, if necessary.) I just used a plastic cup and refilled it a million times until all the bleach/baking soda paste was gone. I recommend something larger, like a bucket, so it wouldn't take as many refills to rinse the whole shower. If you have a showerhead that detaches, that could work too. I was afraid to turn on the showerhead since I removed the curtain for easier access and didn't want to get soaked.

Step 6: Admire super clean shower. I LOVE that the yucky black stuff is GONE! Actually feeling clean in the shower is a nice change. I'm a bit embarrassed it took me this long to find something that worked, but I am beyond glad I finally I did. (Thank you Simone!) I didn't take a before picture to show the difference, but I promise, it wasn't pleasant before and it's beautiful now.
(I actually did this back in early February and still no black has returned!)


Grout Cleaner "Recipe"

Ingredients: 
-bleach
-baking soda (or other gritty cleaner, such as Comet)
-bowl or some type of container to mix paste in
-plastic wrap
-rubber gloves
-mask or bandana
-cup or bucket to use for washing away paste
-toothbrush (optional) 

1. Gather necessary supplies.
2. Make the paste.
3. Spread on grout and cover with plastic wrap.
4. Let sit for several hours.
5. Remove plastic wrap and rinse with water.
6. Admire super clean shower.

Beauty Box 5 -- March 2014 Review

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly beauty subscription box that brings five deluxe samples or full sized products to your door mailbox. The most expensive option is the monthly option, which is $12 a month. If you opt for a three-month subscription, it's $30, making it $10/month. The cheapest option is the yearly subscription, which is $99 for the year, making each box $8.75! (Please note that each subscription automatically renews once the time frame is up unless you cancel ahead of time.) I currently do the three month subscription, but have considered the yearly one because it's such a good deal (especially when there are $20 off coupons). On to the box.

The theme for the March box is "Spring Cleaning," so most of the box was skincare products. I forgot to take a picture of the whole box together and already used the box to mail a divvy, so I couldn't put everything back and pretend I did it. Sorry. 

1. Jane's Pick All Natural Soaps

Description: Get clean without the chemicals! Made from an all-natural blend infused with herbs and flowers, these pretty soaps are handmade, so each bar has a unique pattern and relaxing scent. BB5 tip: lather up and use this instead of shaving cream! 

Cost: $8.00 for 5oz. (My sample doesn't have a size on it, so it's a bit difficult to determine the actual cost for this. According to most other blogs, roughly $1.) 

Review: I'm still undecided if I'm going to use this or put it up on my edivv site. I like that it's handmade and all natural, but I'm not typically a bar soap user. Plus, SO many people on edivv are in search of all-natural products, meaning I may be able to swap for something I like better. The scent isn't marked on the soap, but from the pictures on Jane's Pick's website, it looks like "Purity," which is lavender and peppermint. The only thing holding me back from posting it for swaps is the BB5 tip of using it in place of shaving cream, which is appealing. Erg, I'm so indecisive.

2. Tree Hut Shea Body Butter

Description: Treat your body to the best! Extra thick and paraben free, this lotion deep conditions your skin with cocoa and organic shea butter, provides natural anti-aging properties, and puts us in the mood to party with lime and coconut extract. 

Cost: $7.49 for 7 oz. (My 2oz sample is worth $2.14.) 

Review: When I opened this, I couldn't stop smelling it. It smells AMAZING! It's so good, next time you're at a store that carries Tree Hut products (I saw it at Walmart the other day.), go smell it. No really, do it! Coconut Lime is heavenly. I've only used this once because I'm currently trying some other body creams, but there is no question that this entire little jar will disappear.

3. Bellapierre Cosmetics Makeup Base

Description: Every girl deserves an all-in-one that hides imperfections and makes her makeup even better. This pretty ivory base is great when you're low on time (or room in your purse), and serves as a concealer, illuminator, and eyeshadow primer. 

Cost: $18.99 for .29 oz. (Mine's .25oz, so I'm thinking someone messed up and that's actually the full size.) 

Review: This was the spoiler product this month (the product they told us in advance we'd be getting). I've never used a makeup base before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The color is a little lighter than my skin tone (which was shocking because I'm still super pale from winter), but it actually works very well. I've only used it under my eyes, but I'm excited to use it as an eyeshadow primer. From others' pictures and reviews, the difference in the eyeshadow coloring is phenomenal; the base really makes the color stand out and not be dull. This isn't a product that I'll include every day, but it is nice to have on hand after a night of little sleep (insert bags under eyes) or as an eyeshadow primer.

4. Hard Candy Just Nails Nail Color

Description: Fashion isn't the only industry that's experienced a 90's revival! These cult classic polishes offer intense, unique colors that will make any cosmetic commitment-phobe want to put a ring on it. Layer with other polishes or rock it alone. 

Cost: $3.99 for .35 oz. (full size!) 

Review: I am on a nail polish kick, so I should've been excited about this, but the color just isn't right for me. It's kind of a goldish pink. If it was just pink or just gold, I'd probably like it, but I don't, so I put it up on my edivv shop. And the plastic heart ring doesn't help it's cause...just saying. 

5. Swissco Dual-sided Facial Pad

Description: Achieving softer skin and smaller pores is as easy as exfoliating a few times a week! Just add your favorite cleanser to the pad, gently buff that pretty face, and kiss lackluster skin goodbye!

Cost: $2.00 one size (full size!) 

Review: The exfoliating side is super rough and the terrycloth side has an elastic band on it for your hand, making that side pretty unusable. Because of this, I put it up on my edivv site. No one has wanted it yet, so I'm considering taking it down and giving it a try since I'm not good about exfoliating my face on a regular basis. We'll see. (Further proof of my indecisiveness.) 

Total Value: $28.12, which is well over double what I paid for the box (almost triple). On top of receiving THREE full sized products, there weren't any foil packets, and that makes me happy! Even though I'm only currently using two of the products, those two alone (actually, just one of them by value) makes the box worth it. Plus, putting things on my edivv site is not a loss for me because it gives me a chance to swap for other products of my choosing. Next month is the last of my second three-month subscription and I'm not sure whether to cancel or keep it going. I do like the boxes I'm receiving, but if Target continues their $5 boxes, I'll likely drop Beauty Box 5 and just do that. I mean, a girl can only use but so many products at once anyway. 

If you're interested in starting a Beauty Box 5 subscription, please use my referral link: http://www.beautybox5.com/?u=861 It will help me earn points that I can use toward full size products. Thanks!

My First VoxBox -- Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick

Recently, I signed up for a product review site called Influenster. You connect all of your social media channels to the site as well as review products that you've used before to boost your influenster score. The higher your score, the more likely you are to receive FREE products to test and review. I love free. I signed up March 6th and received my first VoxBox (what the boxes with free products are called) two days ago (March 18th). Fun, right?

Here's how it went down. About two weeks ago (March 7th -- yes, the day after I signed up), I received a pre-qualification email and survey. I filled out the survey (only a couple questions), but had read that getting this email definitely did not mean I would be receiving a box, so I tried to not get my hopes up. A week later (March 14th), I received another email saying I was IN! Talk about exciting!

This particular box only had one item, which was a bit of a let down since some boxes have multiple products to try, but I'll take anything I can get. (Some people say it's taken them quite a while to get a box or they haven't gotten one at all, so really, I should be grateful for getting a box, even with only one item, within the first month of registering.)

I received Rimmel London's Moisture Renew Lipstick in the color As You Want Victoria. As you can hopefully tell in the pictures, it's a bright pinkish color. This is so not me. One, I never very rarely wear lipstick, so I was a bit surprised to have been asked to review this product in the first place. Two, if I am going to wear lipstick, I tend to go with redder colors. Regardless, I'm happy to receive anything free. Even if it's not a product I will continue to use, it's still exciting to receive mail other than bills. (Can I hear an Amen?)

Other than the color (for me), this lipstick is actually really nice. It applied very smoothly and did not feel sticky or dry out my lips, like many lipsticks do. I only left it on long enough to take a selfie, so I can't fully attest to how long/well it lasts, BUT when I went to remove it, it was next to impossible to get off. Annoying for me in the moment, but probably a positive trait when it comes to lipstick. My guess is the color would easily last for several hours since even after removing it (which again, was a bit of a struggle), my lips still had a hint of the bright pink.

Please ignore the fact that you can see my inner lip color because of my expression. 

Google tells me this lipstick costs $5.47 at Walmart and $6.99 at Ulta. For being a cheaper lipstick, I'd say it's a pretty good one to try. It appears there are many color options, so if you're not looking for the bright pink spring look like this one, there's still likely one that would be a good fit.

Interested in joining Influenster and reviewing products for free? I have FOUR invites left. Please only use one if you're sure you'll use it, as it affects my influenster score. Comment below if you'd like an invite. (You can sign up without an invite, but supposedly having an invite increases your score from the start.)

*I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

Target Beauty Box -- March 2014

When I first heard of subscription beauty boxes, I was super intrigued and instantly considered starting one. I researched A LOT of boxes that are out there to find the one I thought would best fit me and my beauty style (very basic and simple, in case you don't know me). If you've read much of my blog, then you know I decided on Beauty Box 5. BUT when I was looking into all of my options, I ran across the Target Beauty Box. They ran a one month trial back in May (2013). The box was $5 plus tax. FIVE DOLLARS! I'm currently paying $10 a box with Beauty Box 5, and while I am enjoying it overall, cheaper is always better for me, especially since I don't mind drugstore brands. (If I'm honest, I prefer them since those are the products I can actually afford to continue using on a regular basis.) Anyway, it wasn't an option because they only ran it for that one month, so I chose Beauty Box 5 and moved on with life. BUT, they had another one this month! You better believe I ordered one!

Here are the details. It's still $5 a month, making it even cheaper than Beauty Box 5's yearly subscription rate ($99 for the year = $8.75/box). You do have to pay tax, but mine was only $.30. Shipping is supposed to be free, but sadly, Target's website had a glitch when I ordered where it was charging for shipping, so I had to call and have someone fix it. Annoying, but whatever. One of my favorite features of Target's box is that you can see what the products are prior to ordering, so if nothing interests you, then don't order it. There isn't a recurring subscription like most other boxes, which I also really like. This means you aren't charged for the next month if you forget to cancel. The downside is they may be sold out before you get one, but for me, that's better than being charged for something I don't want. (They aren't advertising for April yet, so I have no idea how often they are going to be offering these.) Anyway, the actual box.

1. TONI&GUY Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray (2.5 fl oz): Want beachy hair without hitting the surf? Spray from root to tip for salty, sultry texture and subtle, windswept waves.
Cost: $16.99 for 6.8 oz., making this bottle worth $6.25 (already more than the box!)
I actually already received this product from a divvy I did (read what that is here), but if it works, then I'll just have more. If not, I'll put this one up on my edivv shop. 

2. L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara (.22 fl oz): Stretch and lengthen lashes for a fluttery, winged-out look with this unique mascara formula and revolutionary asymmetrical Butterfly Brush.
Cost: $7.99 for .22oz. This is full size, so this product alone is also worth more than the whole box! 
I love mascara. I wont open this for a while as I currently have several I need to use up, and I don't want this to dry out before I get around to it. Regardless, I always love a new mascara, especially a volumizing (Blogger is telling me that isn't a word, but I really want it to be, so I'm leaving it.) one.

3. Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo (1.7 oz): Give hair a rejuvenating boost with this paraben and colorant-free formula made with natural tapioca to instantly absorb excess oil with less residue.
Cost: $4.99 for 4.9oz., making my sample worth $1.73.
Dry shampoo has become an item I must always have on hand. My hair gets so greasy, so it's a nice way to quickly refresh my hair. I recently learned you're only supposed to wash your hair two times a week! I'm lucky if I can go every other day, and that's only if I have the help of dry shampoo. I'm planning a blog post comparing different dry shampoos I've tried, and I will be sure to include this one in that.

4. COVERGIRL Smoochies Sizzle Gloss (.44 fl oz): Pucker up. Sheer color meets sizzling shimmer in a moisturizing formula that’s always stunning, never sticky.
Cost: $4.99 (Target's website says, "See store for pricing." so this is just a guess based on other stores' prices.) for .44 fl oz. (Full size!)
This is the product I was least excited about in the box. I'm a chapstick (well, Burt's Bees if you want to be technical) girl. The one I received is actually a shimmery clear (called Date Night), instead of the pinkish one advertised, so I am PUMPED about that! My biggest complaint about lip gloss is the stickiness, but this one surprisingly isn't. I figured it was all just a marketing ploy, but it's actually truthful. This won't replace my beloved Burt's Bees, but I will likely use this when I want to be a bit more glossy. (Forgive me for not using my own pictures; my hard drive crashed two days ago, so uploading pictures there isn't really an option at this point. I'm currently using a Chromebook, which is internet only and blogger isn't wanting to upload pictures from my phone for some reason.)

5. Jergens BB Cream Light (2 fl oz): Finally, a multi-tasking beauty cream in a quick-drying formula that goes on sheer and delivers visible results in just 5 days.
Cost:  $11.99 for 7.5 oz, making my sample worth $3.20.
When I saw this product, I thought it was a BB cream for your face, which I was excited to try because I've been hearing a lot about BB creams, but have never used one. Like the picture shows, this is a body cream. (Yeah, it helps to read thoroughly.) I applied it to my arms today. According to Jergens' website, this cream is supposed to hydrate, illuminate, even, firm, and correct your skin. The first two are said to happen immediately, whereas the last three are noticeable after five days of use. I can't attest to the last three yet, since I've only used it once, but it does hydrate and gave my skin a bit of a glow (aka illuminate). The cream is beige-colored and has a light scent. It's not my favorite smell, but creams like this typically have weird smells, often much worse than this one. It's not over-powering, so I'll probably continue to use it and see if it evens, firms, and corrects my skin like it claims. I have pretty blotchy skin, so this could be super helpful for me.

Total Value: If I had purchased these products from Target individually (which is actually impossible since some are sample sized), it would've cost around $24.16. This is a great value since I only paid $5.30. Also, I didn't include this earlier, but the box it comes in is awesome! It's just a plain white, super sturdy box inside the target brand sleeve, so it's definitely reusable. I'm very pleased with Target's beauty box. I really hope they continue to offer these!